Ore concentrator



May 22, 1951 w. N. T. MORTON ORE CONCENTRATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 8, 1948 INVENTOR. WALTER 1v. 7? MORTON May 22, 1951 w. N. T. MORTON2,554,480

ORE CONCENTRATOR Filed Jan. 8, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 :11 a i H w w I I2/ l g m 5a F m n n m I L L 1 7 o I q 45 A i II I INVENTOR. L WALTER N.r. MORTON @MZW. W 7612104 A TTORNEYS.

y 22, 14951 w. N. T. MORTON 2,554,480

ORE CONCENTRATOR Filed Jan. 8, 1948 s SheetS -Sheet s INVENTOR. WALTERIV. I MORTON .4 TTOR/VEYS.

Patented May 22, 1951 UNITED STATES ijATENT ()FFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to an ore concentrator and has to do particularlywith a concentrator or separator of the centrifugal type wherein therotating parts are reduced to a minimum thereby simplifying balancinproblems and wherein the major portions of the separator are stationaryand are of simple rugged construction.

An object of the invention is to provide an ore concentrator of improvedefficiency and capable of adjustment for handling ores of differenttypes. and grades. For example, a concentrator. constructed inaccordance with this invention can very easily be set up andadjusted tohandle rich or lean ores. 4

In accordance with the invention the concentrator has an exterior shellor body providing an interior chamber and within the container is arotary impeller. The pulp, that is, ground or crushed ore in water isintroduced into the chamher, and subjected to the action of theimpeller. The, heavy concentrates and the gangue are separated largelyby centrifugal force as the pulp is caused to flow or move in thechamber because of the action of the impeller. Due to the interiorconstruction, and formation of the chamber the heavy concentrates andthe gangue are caused to flow into different portions of the chamber anddischarge means is provided for both.

Other objects will become apparent as thefollowing detailed descriptionis followed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which show oneform of concentrator constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 1 is a. general cross, sectional view showing. a. concentratorconstructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a general view showing the concentrato'r in side. elevation.

Fig. 3 is a, view showing the top of the pulp vessel lookingsubstantially on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view'in the nature of a plan view of the apparatus with thetop funnel removed showi'ngstructure in dotted lines and illustrating byarrowsthe flow of concentrates.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the impeller.

v Fig, 6 is an enlarged cross sectional View showing a wiper blade andtaken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 5.

The mechanism embodies a separating chamber provided with a bottom I andwith walls extending upwardly therefrom which advantageously andpreferably are of conical shape as illustrated at 2. The conical wall ispreferably flanged atits lower edge so as'to rest upon and besecured tcrthe bottom by cap" screws'or' bolts 3. This provides a separatingchamber 4. There is an impeller in the chamber carried by and operatedby a shaft 6 suitably journalled as at 1 and which may be rotated by anysuitable means, such as an electric motor 8 operating through a belt orthe like 9 which, in turn, runs over pulleys l and II. This impeller hasa plate-like body 55 with blades I6 thereon and the impeller is arrangedto rotate counter-clockwise as Fig. is viewed. The impeller sits closeto the bottom panel I and it may be provided with one or more wiperblades ll extending therefrom which may project into the space adjacentthe intersection of the side and bottom walls, as shown in Fig. 1. Thewiper blades are preferably flexible comprised of a flexible piece ofsteel I8 and preferably provided with a rubber or plastic coating I9.

The top of the cone shaped chamber is provided with an extensionsurrounding which is a chamber 2i closed at the top and bottom as at 22and 23 and havin an outlet or discharge pipe 24. Attached to the topclosure 22 is an inlet tube 25 which extends downwardly through theextension 20 and terminates adjacent the center of the impeller. In thisconnection, the impeller preferably has a central conical extension 26.A suitable vessel, which may be of funnel shape, is illustrated at 30,the same communicating with the inlet pipe 25 and it may have a spiderformation 3! for supporting a valve 32 having a screw threaded stem 33threaded in the spider and a suitable controlling handle 34.

A valve in the form of a plate 36 cooperates with the upper end of theextension 20 and rods 31' secured to the valve plate slide through thecover plate 22 and their upper ends are engaged by a ring or plate 38.

The chamber 4 has an outlet for the concentrate, this outlet beingpreferably substantially tangentially located as shown at 40, andlocated in the lower portion of the chamber adjacent the intersection ofthe bottom wall I and the conical wall 2. A suitable valve 4| isassociated with this outlet, the same bein slidably mounted and having arod 42 with an element thereon having an abutment 43 and an abutment 44.A shifter element 45 havin a yoke portion between the two abutments iskeyed to a rock shaft 46 held by brackets 41 so that oscillation of theshaft moves the valve member 45 into and out of position for closing anopening the outlet 40. This valve is preferably automatically acting bythe condition of the gangue. A construction for so operating the'valveresides in a lever 50 keyed or vessel 38. the inlet pipe in a controlledmanner as reguthe pipe 25 and engages the impeller.

to the shaft 46 and having an extending arm for receiving, in anadjustable position, a suitable weight 5|. The other end of the lever isconnected to a rod 52 preferably provided with a turnbuckle 53. This rodis pivotally mounted as at 54 and has a forked end 55 for resting on theplate 38.

Th interior of the chamber is preferably provided with rifiles orabutments on the interior surfaces of the conical wall 2. There are aseries of these riflies or abutments as shown in Fig. 4, and each isdisposed in an angular manner so that it extends along the inner surfaceof the member 2 substantially from the bottom to the top thereof. Theabutments or rifiles are preferably broken, there being alternateopenings and abutment portions, the openings being illustrated at SI,and these openings are preferably offset from each other. That is tosay, the opening in one rifile is in alignment with the abutment of thenext adjacent rifile.

In the operation of the apparatus, the pulp :which, aforesaid, is groundand screened ore carried. in water is introduced into the funnel Thepulp flows downwardly through lated by the valveBZ. The pulp passes fromDue to the central protuberance 26 the pulp is more or less spread .ordivided so that it flows outwardly in alldirections. The pulp thusdischarged from the. inlet pipe falls upon the plate body of theimpellerand rotation is imparted thereto. The speed of rotation of theimpeller is such as to cause the substance to flow outwardly bycentrifugal force and the substance engages the walls of the conicalchamber 4. Accordingly, a charge of substance in the chamber is whirledrapidly and as the substance moves over the inner surface-of the chamberit engages the rifiles. The lighter substances work upwardly under thecentrifugal force while the heavy concentrates work downwardly. Theheavy concentrates strike the ,abutments or riffies and more or lesspile up or accumulate thereon, but the continuing forces arelsuch thatthe substances piled up against the riffles are urged in a downwarddirection. This is 'becauseof the downward inclination of the riffies.Of course, as some of the substance .accumu lated on an abutment portionof the rifile reaches an opening 6| therein, that accumulation passestherethrough and onto the next rifile. Ultimately, however, the heavyconcentrates are .separated from the gangue and are accumulated in theouter regions of the chamber while the gangue, comprising the water andother lighter materials, is forced upwardly through the extension 20.The pressure of the gangue serves to elevate. the valve plate 36 for thedischarge of ,the gangue through the discharge pip 24. The elevating ofthe valve plate actuates the rod 52, and as will be appreciated byreference to Fig, 2, the valve 4! is shifted to the right, as Fig. 2-isviewed, thus opening the outlet 48 for the heavy concentrates.

Accordingly, a continuous operation may be had with the valve 32 beingadjusted for the entrance of'pulp with sufficient rapidity to satisfythe-requirements of the machine in separating the heavy concentratesfrom the gangue. It will be noted that .the escape of the gangueactuates the valve control for opening the discharge valve for theconcentrates. With the arragement as shown,, if there is no discharge ofgangue the valve for the concentrates is closed. The weight 5! serves toclose the valve against centrifugal force and the pressure of theconcentrates thereon, and this can be adjusted as required. The valving'arrangements can be adjusted for lean or rich ores. For example, in thecase of a lean ore, in which there is more gangue, the turnbuckle 53 maybe adjusted so as to require a greater movement of the valve plate 30 inorder to open the concentrate valve 4L.

The heavy concentrates more or less accumulate as above mentioned, inthe lower outer regions of the chamber and, if desired, the outlet valvetherefor can be opened at intervals. The wiper blades i'i serve to movethe concentrates and to wipe the lower outer regions of the chamberrelatively free thereof although the wiper blades may be dispensed with.r

In order to prevent the accumulation of concentrates in the outerregions of the chamber so dry that the same will not readily flow someof the water introduced with the pulp may be caused to flow or pumpedtothe outer regions of the chamber. One way of accomplishing this is toform the blades IS with hollow passages 10 which have forwardly facingopenings Tl (Fig. 1). These passages extend downwardly through the bodyplate l5 of the impeller and into the space between the body l5 and thebottom panelv I.

The impeller has suitable blades E2 on its under surface. In theoperation of the impeller liquid is picked up by the opening H andpumped downwardly and outwardly by the blades 12. into the outer regionsof the chamber. The solids of the gangue being heavier than water arethrown outwardly sothat at the locations of the opening H the liquid ispicked up with a minimum of solids of the'gangue.

1. An ore concentrator comprising, a stationary bottom wall, wallsextending upwardly there from, said walls defining a separating chamber,an impeller in the chamber located adjacent the bottom wall, anddisposed in a plane substantially parallel to the. wall, means foroperating the impeller, an inlet pipe for pulp passing into the chamberand arranged to discharge pulp to the impeller, the impeller havingblades for engaging the pulp to impart rotary motion thereto and throwthe pulp outwardly by centrifugal force, the inner surfaces of theupwardly extending walls having rifiies thereon which are inclined so asto extend in an upwardly and downwardly direction for the collection ofheavy concentrates thereon and for urging the concentrates into thelower outer regions of the chamber, an outlet pipe. for gangueconnecting into the upper regions of the chamber, outlet means in thelower outer portion of the chamber for heavy concentrates, a valve forthe outlet pipe for the gangue operated to open position by the pressureof the gangue thereon, a valve for controlling the outlet means for theheavy concentrates and connections between said valves so thattheoperation of the outlet valve for the gangue operates the valve for.the heavy concentrates. V V V 2. An ore concentrator comprising, astationary bottom member positioned substantially horizontally, sidewalls connected to the bottom memhaving its lower end arranged todischarge pulp to the center part of the impeller, said impeller havingblades for imparting rotary motion to the pulp to throw the sameoutwardly by centrifugal force against the inclined walls, passage meansfor gangue surrounding the inlet pipe and extending upwardly from thetop of the conical chamber, an outlet pipe for gangue, outlet meanspositioned substantially at the intersection of the bottom member andthe upwardly extending walls, said outlet means being for heavyconcentrates, a valve betweenth said passage means and the outlet pipefor the gangue arranged to be operated by the pressure of the ganguethereon, a valve for controlling the outlet means for the heavyconcentrates and means interconnecting the valves whereby operation ofthe valve for the gangue operates the valve for the heavy concentrates.

3. An ore concentrator comprising, a stationary bottom member positionedsubstantially horizontally, side walls connected to the bottom memherand extending upwardly in converging manher to form a separating chambersubstantially of conical shape, an impeller in the chamber positionedadjacent the bottom member and substantially parallel there-to, an inletpipe for pulp extending downwardly into the chamber and having its lowerend arranged to discharge pulp to the center part of the impeller, saidimpeller having blades for imparting rotary motion to the pulp to throwthe same outwardly by centrifugal force against the inclined Walls,passage means for gangue surrounding the inlet pipe and extendingupwardly from the top of the conical chamber, an outlet pipe for gangue,outlet means positioned substantially at the intersection of the bottommember and the upwardly extending walls, said outlet means being forheavy concentrates, and flexible wiper blades secured to the impellerfor actuation in and for wiping the heavy concentrates in the zoneadjacent the intersection of the bottom member and the upwardlyextending walls.

4. An ore concentrator comprising, stationary bottom and upper wallsforming a separating chamber, a rotary impeller in the chamber locatedadjacent the bottom wall, means operating the impeller, an inlet pipefor crushed ore carried in water passing into the chamber for trifugalforce, an outlet pipe for gangue connecting into the upper region of thechamber, outlet means in the lower regions of the chamber for heavyconcentrates, and means including passages in the impeller forrecirculating some of the liquid into the outer regions of the chamberto wet the heavy concentrates.

5. An ore concentrator comprising, stationary bottom and upper wallsforming a separating chamber, a rotary impeller in the chamber locat edadjacent the bottom wall, means operating the impeller, an inlet pipefor crushed ore carried in water passing into the chamber for dis--charging the crushed ore and water to the impeller, the impeller servingto engage the crushed ore and water to impart rotary motion thereto andthrow the same outwardly by centrifugal force, an outlet pipe for gangueconnecting into the upper region of the chamber, outlet means in thelower regions of the chamber for heavy concentrates, and includingpassages in the impeller means for pumping some of the water from theinner regions of the chamber into the outer zone for wetting the heavyconcentrates.

6. An ore concentrator comprising, a station'- ary bottom wall, wallsextending upwardly therefrom, said Walls defining a separating chamber,an impeller in the chamber located adjacent the bottom wall, anddisposed in a plane substantially parallel to the wall, means foroperating the i'mpeller, an inlet pipe for pulp passing into the chamberand arranged to discharge pulp to the impeller, the impeller havingblades for engaging the pulp to impart rotary motion thereto and throwthe pulp outwardly by centrifugal force, whereby the gangue is forcedupwardly in the chamber with the heavy concentrates collecting in thelower outer regions in the chamber, an outlet pipe for gangue connectedinto the upper regions of the chamber and outlet means in the lowerouter region of the chamber for the heavy concentrates, the blades ofthe impeller having passages therein leading to the space between theimpeller body and the bottom wall, and blades on the underside of theimpeller for pumping water of the pulp into the outer regions of thechamber to wet the heavy concentrates.

7. An ore concentrator comprising, a chamber constituted by asubstantially flat horizontally disposed bottom wall and a circular wallextending upwardly therefrom of conical form, an impeller in the chamberhaving a plate like body positioned adjacent the bottom wall andsubstantially parallel thereto, said impeller having blades on its uppersurface, the outer portions of the impeller being spaced from theintersection of the bottom wall with the upper extending circular wall,a conduit extending downwardly into the chamber and substantiallycentrally thereof and into close proximity to the impeller fordischarging pulp to the center part of the impeller, means for rotatingthe impeller whereby the same throws the pulp outwardly toward the spacebeyond the impeller, and for forcing the pulp upwardly along the insidesurfaces of the conical wall, spaced riflies on the inner surface of theconical wall for engaging the pulp and tending to urge the heavyconcentrates downwardly into the space adjacent the bottom wall andoutwardly of the impeller, an outlet for gangue leading from the top ofthe chamber and surrounding the said conduit, and outlet meanstangentially arranged and located substantially at the intersection ofthe bottom wall and said conical wall for the outlet of the concentratesfrom said space.

8. An ore concentrator comprising, a chamber constituted by asubstantially fiat horizontally disposed bottom wall and a circular wallextending upwardly therefrom of conical form, an impeller in the chamberhaving a plate like body positioned adjacent the bottom wall andsubstantially parallel thereto, said impeller having blades on its uppersurface, the outer portions of the impeller being spaced from theintersection of the bottom wall with the upper extending circular wall,a conduit extending downwardly into the chamber and substantiallycentrally thereof and into close proximity to the impeller fordischarging pulp to the center part of the impeller, means for rotatingthe impeller whereby the same throws the pulp outwardly toward the spacebeyond the impeller, and for forcing the pulp upwardly along the insidesurfaces of the conical wall, spaced riflles on the inner surface of 8the conical wall for engaging the pulp and tend- REFERENCES CITED mg tourge the heavy concentrates downwardly The following references are ofrecord in the into the space adjacent the bottom wall and outfile ofthis patent:

wardly of the impeller, an outlet for gangue leading from the top of thechamber and surrounding UNITED STATES PATENTS the said conduit, outletmeans tangentially ar- Number Name Date ranged and located substantiallyat the intersec- 489,797 Faber Jan. 10, 1893 tion of the bottom wall andsaid conical wall for 762,867 Allen June 21, 1904 the outlet of theconcentrates from said space, 880,808 Michaelsen Mar. 3, 1908 andinterconnected valves for the outlet of the 10 896,471 Seymour Aug. 18,1908 gangue and the outlet of the concentrates. 1,657,161 HigginbottomJan. 24, 1928 1,885,735 Laughlin Nov. 1, 1932 WALTER N. T. MORTON.2,293,398 Meesook Aug. Ill, 1942

